41-year-old Italian Luca Trapanese always dreamed of becoming a father. He shared this dream with his partner, but after they broke up, the desire did not disappear. The problem was that it is virtually impossible for single men in Italy to adopt a child.
The situation changed in 2017, when Luca finally got the chance to apply. He immediately stated that he wanted to take in a child with special needs. For him, it was a conscious choice, not an exception.
That same year, he received a call from the orphanage: little Alba, a girl with Down syndrome, was only 13 weeks old and had been abandoned by her mother. Twenty families refused to take the baby, and only Luca said a firm “yes.”
It was his first time holding a newborn, but he knew immediately that this was his child. Alba turned out to be as strong and sociable as he was. Her father began taking her to parks, museums, and even to work so that she would grow up open to the world.
Luca had been a volunteer since his youth, helping people with disabilities, so he had experience and knowledge. And now he had a personal connection. Later, he wrote a book about what it’s like to be a single gay father raising a special child.
After the book was published, Luca became famous. He is invited to appear on television and in public discussions, and he shares Alba’s life on Instagram. There, he proves that a happy childhood is possible, despite any prejudices.
